Water

Adopting solar energy for a new integrated water system

Amagua C.E.M. designs solar-powered water treatment and distribution network for Ecuador’s Samborondón District. (Image source: Bentley Systems)

Amagua's integrated water system in La Puntilla Parish, Ecuador, leverages solar power and Bentley’s 3D modeling to optimise operations, reduce costs, and cut carbon emissions, ensuring a sustainable water supply.

Neda Simeonova, senior product marketing manager, Water Infrastructure, at Bentley Systems, pens this piece for Technical Review Middle East. She has been involved in the water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure industry for over 18 years, and has focused extensively on industry trends, technology advancements, and water policies.

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^{Neda Simeonova, senior product marketing manager, Water Infrastructure, at Bentley Systems}

Amagua C.E.M. provides drinking water and wastewater management for the La Puntilla Parish in the Samborondón district of Ecuador. Committed to offering a quality, efficient water supply and sewerage service, they also provide complementary preventive system management, as well as consulting for network design, construction, and maintenance of residential facilities. To streamline operations and ensure a reliable water supply, Amagua decided to build an integrated water capture, transportation, and treatment system.

“To have operational autonomy, we determined the need for an integrated collection, conduction, and treatment system that allows it to supply a complete flow of 880 litres per second (l/s),” said Leonidas Dávila, engineer and project director at Amagua.

The project was divided into two phases, providing a flow of 440 l/s in the first phase and an additional 440 l/s during the second phase. It involved designing a catchment, distribution line, and treatment plant. To make the project self-sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint as much as possible, Amagua contemplated using solar panels to power the network and pump the water to the distribution tanks. The solar energy captured by the panels would power surface pumps that draw water from a river or well and pump it to the raw water tank and distribution system, reducing and potentially eliminating the network’s reliance on conventional energy sources, such as grid electricity or fossil fuels.

Addressing undulating terrain and pipeline transients

While solar panels are advantageous to reducing environmental impact and supporting a more sustainable and economical water supply, Amagua needed to consider several factors to optimise pump and network operations. “It is important to consider the appropriate capacity and size of solar panels, as well as the efficiency and capacity of storing energy in batteries, for optimal operation of the pump system,” remarked Dávila. In addition to the panel specifications and energy considerations, Amagua also had to address semi-undulating terrain and irregular topography, as well as avoid problems with transients in the 4.2-km-long pipeline in the high elevation area.

To identify and mitigate potential problems that could affect the pressure and flow and compromise operations, as well as ensure that the solar panels could generate the necessary power to deliver a reliable water supply, Amagua had to perform various modeling scenarios. They needed an integrated 3D design and hydraulic modeling and analysis solution to optimise optioneering, determine the most effective network arrangement, and validate the use of solar energy.

Leveraging Bentley’s 3D design and hydraulic modeling and analysis applications

“It was proposed that MicroStation and OpenFlows Water be used to optimise the execution of the project,” stated Dávila. Amagua selected MicroStation to design the entire architecture of the system in 2D and 3D, as well as OpenFlows Water to model and analyse the pipeline arrangement of the network and estimate energy consumption costs, based on both electricity and renewable energy.

The advanced algorithms and 3D visualisation features of Bentley’s applications allowed Amagua to perform digital simulations of numerous scenarios, verifying the optimization of both the existing and future distribution networks, and validating the use of solar panels as the most efficient source of renewable energy. “Thanks to the usefulness of OpenFlows Water’s energy cost module, we were able to model energy costs when using fossil fuels and when using solar panels, as well as their contribution to the carbon footprint,” continued Dávila. The digital models will also be used throughout the construction and operations phases of the project.

Digital simulation reaps savings and supports sustainability

Using Bentley’s advanced 3D design and hydraulic modeling and analysis applications, Amagua reduced modeling time by 80%. Working in a connected digital platform improved efficiencies in data federation and data exchange processes by 75% and 80%, respectively. Through accurate modeling and simulation, Amagua shortened the planning stage by 15 days, identifying and eliminating 3,530 collisions during the design phase that was equivalent to a potential savings of US$50,000. The integrated technology solution shaved 97 days off the construction schedule to save US$1.2mn while achieving an optimal design that saved 40,000 tons of concrete.

In addition to time, cost, and material savings, the digital simulations supported the use of solar panels, delivering significant environmental and sustainability benefits by reducing energy consumption and the carbon footprint of the project. The solar panels reduced dependency on fossil fuels, eliminating 6,905 metric tons of carbon emissions. “As a result, we were able to achieve a 95% reduction in fossil fuel energy used per year,” stated Dávila. Compared to conventional pumping systems, the solar-powered pumps are easier to maintain and are especially useful in rural or remote areas where electrical infrastructure may be limited, providing autonomous and reliable access to drinking water, improving the quality of life for communities. “The use of water pumping systems with solar panels offers significant environmental, economic, and social benefits,” concluded Dávila.

CDE introduces new filter press at Hillhead

ProPress high-performance filter press enhances its advanced water management and recycling systems.

CDE, renowned for its sand and aggregate wet processing solutions in waste recycling and natural minerals processing, has introduced its new ProPress high-performance filter press at Hillhead, enhancing its advanced water management and recycling systems.

Developed for the construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling, quarrying, and mining sectors, the ProPress incorporates cutting-edge technology to ensure high operational efficiency and optimal water recovery.

ProPress advantages

The ProPress, featuring patent-pending technology, boasts a flexible design and adjustable throughput to match any operation's processing volume. Unlike traditional filter presses, it offers dual feed, allowing sludge to be fed from both sides, enhancing efficiency and reducing cycle times. Optimised sludge feed pressure expedites dewatering, boosting overall throughput. An overhead beam design reduces stress on the unit, enhancing durability.

With plates 25% larger (2.5m x 2m), the ProPress offers greater chamber volume and fewer plates, maximising capacity within a smaller footprint and improving mechanical cycle times. Integrated plate-shaking technology reduces filter cake build-up, minimising the need for manual intervention. An access walkway allows safe, efficient maintenance, and flush-mounted drip trays prevent material entrapment, providing a secure platform for operators.

The ProPress is supported by a multifunctional robot that handles plate opening, shaking, cloth washing, plate winch, and maintenance platform tasks. Available in various sizes to suit global markets and applications, the ProPress is largely pre-assembled to expedite commissioning, ensuring quick start-up and rapid return on investment.

During the washing and grading of materials, water collects silt and residues, forming sludge. This sludge is pumped under high pressure into the ProPress, which comprises a series of plate-formed chambers. As sludge is pumped through the press, solids accumulate within the chambers to form a filter cake, which is dewatered to maximise water recycling and recover a valuable by-product.

The ProPress allows owners and operators to recycle up to 95% of process water for immediate reuse while reducing waste disposal costs by recovering a filter cake product suitable for pipe bedding and landfill capping. This eliminates the need for maintenance-intensive, labor-consuming, and costly settling ponds.

CDE’s business development director, Darren Eastwood, said, “Tackling the most challenging of materials is our expertise. We’ve poured over 30 years of engineering excellence into the development of the ProPress. We’ve listened to and worked alongside our customers around the globe to design a solution that is adaptable to their needs, be they in the waste recycling or natural minerals processing sectors.

“Those needs were clear: sustainable water management was key to minimise fresh water dependency and maximise water recycling, all while improving processing capacity, reducing operating costs, and minimising maintenance downtime. The ProPress is our response to all of this and more and it is already delivering for our customers. By the end of the year, the ProPress will be found on eight plants across three regions, processing around 1000tph of material.

“Our most significant product launch in recent years, ProPress really encapsulates CDE’s purpose: to create our best world, a ton at a time. It represents a constant push for improvement to make our equipment, our customers’ operations, and the sectors we operate in more efficient and less wasteful. We’re very pleased to finally bring this latest innovation to the wider market to help maximise the availability of our natural resources and reduce the industry’s waste burden.”

88% of UAE residents would pay extra for water in order to lower health risks and remove micropollutants

14% believe that climate change is a purely natural phenomenon. (Image source: Veolia)

According to the results of the second ecological transformation survey, which was carried out by Veolia and consulting firm Elabe, 81% of UAE citizens are certain that climate disruption will occur, and 54% of them are hopeful that humanity will still control the future and that the costs of ecological transformation will outweigh the costs of climate disruption.

The results are included in the second edition of Veolia's study, The Barometer of Ecological Transformation, which aimed to find out how people throughout the world felt about the current approaches to combating pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. The Barometer seeks to facilitate more solution-focused conversations in order to shorten the public's perspective of ecology.

High price of climate change

In the face of the "climate and ecological wall," according to the most recent Veolia survey, 81% of respondents in the United Arab Emirates are positive that climate change is occurring, even though 21% of them are still unsure about its anthropogenic origin. Of them, 14% believe that climate change is a purely natural phenomenon, and 7% say that it is impossible to pinpoint its cause. In the last study, 61% of respondents said they thought climate change was genuine, suggesting a 20% increase this year.

The majority of respondents to the study, or roughly 64%, also agreed that the expenses connected with climate disruption considerably outweigh the investments needed for ecological transformation, underscoring the financial losses brought about by climate change.

Comparing this year's UAE survey results to last year's, there was a 19% increase in respondents who would be willing to pay more for locally produced energy with lower CO2 emissions and a 23% increase in respondents who would pay more for everyday products made from recycled materials.

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Positivity regarding ecological change

Notwithstanding these obstacles, a sizeable segment of the population in the United Arab Emirates expressed optimism regarding the chances of ecological change, expressing hopes characterised by better consumption patterns, increased unity, higher living standards, improved tranquilly, improved health, a readiness to give up old habits, increased purchasing power, and general happiness.

The poll also revealed a notable rise in the acceptance rates of a number of behaviours, including consuming food grown with sewage sludge, drinking water treated by wastewater treatment, washing dishes and clothes with recycled water, and cutting back on meat intake.

The UAE survey's overall results are consistent with the global trends observed by the Barometer, which indicates that over two-thirds of the world's population is facing ecological challenges. The findings show that most people (89%) acknowledge that climate change is happening and that people (97%) would rather put their health before their finances when making decisions about energy, waste, and water use. Furthermore, despite possible cost increases, two-thirds of respondents from around the world expect higher costs from inaction and are open to health-focused alternatives.

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^{Thierry Dezenclos, CEO of Veolia UAE}

Thierry Dezenclos, CEO of Veolia UAE, said, “The second edition of the Barometer of Ecological Transformation for the UAE highlights the local acceptance of the urgency of climate action amidst pressing environmental challenges and the dire need for ecological transformation. We are delighted to note in this year’s survey a growing sentiment amongst the UAE population to engage in positive action that benefits our environment in the long-term, and aligns with Veolia’s initiatives such as the GreenUp programme, aimed at decarbonisation, de-pollution and resource regeneration. The survey underscores the urgency of ecological action and the global demand for accessible solutions, and we must therefore collaborate effectively for a sustainable future. As the benchmark company for ecological transformation, Veolia has been at the forefront of leading this step changefor protecting our future and enhancing living conditions globally.”

Egypt gets world's largest water treatment plant

The plant has a production capacity of 7.5 million m³/day of agricultural drainage water. (Image source: Metito)

The New Delta Irrigation Water Treatment Plant in Egypt has been declared the world's largest by Guinness World Records (GWR).

It is constructed by a joint venture comprising Orascom Construction, Hassan Allam Construction, Arab Contractors, and Metito, under the mandate of the Ministry of Defence - Armed Forces Engineering Authority. The plant achieved four GWR global records: the largest water treatment facility, the most capacious and operationally robust plant, the largest area for epoxy coating in structures, and the biggest sludge treatment plant globally.

These accolades were celebrated in an official ceremony attended by representatives from the JV companies—Hassan Allam Construction, Arab Contractors, Orascom Construction, and Metito—along with government officials, including Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation; Major General Ahmed Al-Azzazi, Head of the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces; Mohamed El Dahshoury, CEO of Hassan Allam Construction; Karim Madwar, CEO of Metito Egypt and Managing Director of Metito Africa; Hossam El Reefy, Senior Vice President of Arab Contractors; and Ihab Mehawed, Managing Director of Orascom Construction.

The plant has a production capacity of 7.5 million m³/day of agricultural drainage water, playing a crucial role in the reclamation and development of 2 million acres in the western Delta region. Spanning an area of over 320,000 m², the plant operates at a capacity of 86.8 m³/second and boasts a substantial sludge treatment capability of 670.01 kg/s. This project stands as one of the most significant sustainability initiatives worldwide, incorporating state-of-the-art sustainable technologies and solutions. Completed within a record-setting time of 24 months, the plant is a pivotal component of Egypt's national water resources plan, aiming to ensure water security and promote prosperity and sustainability for future generations.

TAQA secures financing for water reservoir project in Saudi Arabia

The signing took place earlier this year. (Image source: TAQA)

Together with Vision Invest and GIC, TAQA has completed all financing arrangements for the Juranah Independent Strategic Water Reservoir Project (ISWR-1) in Makkah region, Saudi Arabia.

The project cost, worth more than US$408mn (AED1.5bn), has been secured through approximately 82% debt funding from both local and international banks, including Alinma Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB) and Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), demonstrating strong confidence from financial partners in the consortium's financial strength and the project's strategic importance.

TAQA holds a 35% stake in the project company and a 50% shareholding in the operations and maintenance (O&M) company, led by TAQA itself.

The Juranah ISWR-1 Project is pivotal in addressing emergency municipal water demand across the Kingdom, specifically in Makkah and Madinah regions during the Hajj season. With a total storage capacity of 2,000,000 m³, being developed under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) scheme, and an additional 500,000 m³ capacity operational tanks under a Design, Build, Transfer (DBT) model, the project aims to significantly enhance the potable water transmission and distribution system.

Omar Al Hashmi, CEO, transmission & distribution, TAQA, said, “Achieving financial closure for the Juranah ISWR-1 Project is a significant milestone for TAQA and our partners. This project underscores our commitment to supporting sustainable development in the region and aligns with our strategy to expand our Transmission and Distribution business internationally.”

The Juranah ISWR-1 was the fourth transmission and distribution project being explored or pursued outside the UAE last year. In December 2023, TAQA signed an MoU to explore the possibility of becoming one of the shareholders in a project to develop a 900 km high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity subsea interconnector project between Greece and Cyprus. Prior to that, TAQA announced a strategic MoU for a feasibility study of an HVDC onshore infrastructure project in Romania. Earlier in 2023, TAQA invested US$30mn (AED113mn) into Xlinks First Limited, which aims to lay the world’s longest HVDC subsea cables between the UK and Morocco to transport renewable power to the UK.

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